It really is
time to fear the beard. James Harden is the best shooting guard in the
Association, maybe in the whole world, right now. No Kobe fans, I’m not hating
on Mamba. I’m just laying out all the facts and straight up saying that
Harden’s production trumps Kobe’s and Harden’s Rockets are in the West’s Top 8
while Kobe’s Lakers have been blowing hot and cold. Facts. Knowing how Kobe is,
however, I’m sure he won’t take this sitting down. It’s Beard versus Mamba down
the stretch.
Note: All of the following stats are based
on the last five games of each player as computed by HoopsStats.com.
5. Monta Ellis (MIL) - 19.4ppg, 5.4rpg,
7.2apg, 2.4spg, 19.2 EFF
The Bucks
have lost three in a row, including back-to-back against the Nets, but it’s not
for the lack of production from Ellis. Monta is showing everyone he can be a
top-tier guard despite the presence of Brandon Jennings, whose skills mirror
Monta’s in a very real way. If Ellis and Jennings can find a way to be this
generation’s version of the Pistons’ Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, then the
Bucks can surprise.
Monta Ellis has kicked his game into high gear this past month. (image by Jim Prisching/AP) |
4. Joe Johnson (BRK) - 19.3ppg, 4.3rpg,
6.0apg, .421 3pt%, 19.7 EFF
It sucks
that he’s injured right now, but the Nets can take comfort in the fact that
when (if) JJ returns, then he shouldn’t take too much time to get back on the
upswing. His most recent numbers pre-injury, as you can see, were very
promising. He’s scoring high again and helping out D-Will in distributing the
basketball. It’s also nice to see a jump in his 3-point shooting.
3. Dwyane Wade (MIA) - 21.4ppg, 5.4rpg,
4.6apg, 2.2spg, 1.0bpg, .535 FG%, 22.0 EFF
D-Wade is
too good to be subpar for an entire season. His rediscovering of his old form
is a BIG reason the Heat have been so dominant in February – Miami has won 11
straight after dropping their Feb. 1 assignment to Indiana. Wade is rebounding
better, defending better, and shooting better. It’s time to be scared of the
Miami Machine again.
2. Kobe Bryant (LAL) - 28.6ppg,
6.8rpg,7.6apg, .547 FG%, .895 FT%, 29.6 EFF
By all
intents and purposes, February has been kind to the Lakers. They’ve gone 8-4 so
far, and Kobe is having a helluva time. His numbers from the past five contests
are all better than his current season averages, especially his FG%. The big
question, of course, is will his production be enough to carry the Lakers into
a postseason that might be even more hellacious than the regular season?
1. James Harden (HOU) - 30.5ppg, 6.0rpg,
5.3apg, 2.0spg, .471 3pt%, .938 FT%, 30.3 EFF
For the
second straight month, Harden is better than Kobe. Does this mean there’s a new
sheriff in town? Perhaps, but if the Beard really wants to be the best SG in
the NBA, he will have to successfully lead his fledgling Rockets to the
Playoffs. His numbers are out-of-this-world, but is his leadership up to snuff?
James Harden is the best off-guard in the NBA. Period. (image by Alex Brandon/AP) |
Game
Recaps (courtesy of the Sports Network):
February
24
Final Score: LA Lakers 103, Dallas 99
Dallas, TX
(Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant poured in a game-high 38 points, including 14 in
the fourth quarter, to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 103-99 victory over the
Dallas Mavericks on Sunday at American Airlines Center. Bryant added 12
rebounds and seven assists in the Lakers' third straight victory and became the
youngest player in NBA history to eclipse the 31,000- point plateau at 34
years, 185 days, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's mark of 36 years, 164 days.
Steve Nash followed with 20 points and Dwight Howard finished with nine points
and 13 boards for Los Angeles. Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 30 points and 13
rebounds, while Vince Carter and Elton Brand added 15 and 14 points,
respectively, for the Mavericks, who saw their three-game win streak come to an
end.
Final Score: Golden State 100, Minnesota 99
Minneapolis,
MN (Sports Network) - Jarrett Jack scored a team-high 23 points to go with
eight assists on Sunday, as the Golden State Warriors snuck past the Minnesota
Timberwolves, 100-99, at Target Center. David Lee recorded a double-double with
22 points and 13 rebounds, while Carl Landry added 19 points and nine boards to
help the Warriors snap a five-game road skid. Stephen Curry contributed 18
points and five assists in Golden State's third consecutive win overall.
Derrick Williams led the Timberwolves with 23 points and 12 rebounds and Nikola
Pekovic poured in 21 points to go with eight boards in the setback, Minnesota's
second in a row and seventh in its last nine games. Ricky Rubio registered 16
points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and six steals in the loss.
Final Score: Miami 109, Cleveland 105
Miami, FL
(Sports Network) - Dwyane Wade finished with 24 points, including 15 in the
fourth quarter, to help the Miami Heat earn their 11th consecutive victory with
a 109-105 decision over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday at AmericanAirlines
Arena. LeBron James poured in a game-high 28 points to go with eight assists
for the Heat, who watched a 22-point third quarter lead turn into an
eight-point fourth quarter deficit before Wade took over down the stretch.
Mario Chalmers chipped in 16 points to help Miami become the first Eastern
Conference team to 40 wins. Dion Waiters led Cleveland with 26 points, while
C.J. Miles made five 3- pointers en route to 19 points for the Cavaliers, who
saw their two-game win streak come to an end. Kyrie Irving added 17 points and
five assists in the setback, Cleveland's fifth in a row against the Heat.
Final Score: New Orleans 110, Sacramento 95
New Orleans,
LA (Sports Network) - Anthony Davis recorded 20 points and eight rebounds, as
the New Orleans Hornets defeated the Sacramento Kings, 110-95, on Sunday at New
Orleans Arena. Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson scored 17 points apiece, Roger
Mason Jr. added 13, and Greivis Vasquez registered 12 points and 13 assists for
the Hornets, who snap a three-game losing streak. John Salmons scored 18 points
for the Kings, who have lost five straight games. DeMarcus Cousins, Jason
Thompson and Isaiah Thomas scored 16 points apiece, with Cousins also grabbing
10 rebounds.
Final Score: Memphis 76, Brooklyn 72
Brooklyn, NY
(Sports Network) - Zach Randolph recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14
rebounds to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 76-72 win over the Brooklyn Nets on
Sunday. Marc Gasol had 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four blocks
for the Grizzlies, who are on a seven-game winning streak. Tony Allen and
Tayshaun Prince scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Mike Conley had 10
points, seven assists and three steals. Deron Williams scored 24 points for the
Nets, who lost their second straight game. C.J. Watson scored 11 points and
Andray Blatche registered 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Final Score: New York 99, Philadelphia 93
New York, NY
(Sports Network) - Entering play Sunday, the sputtering New York Knicks saw
their huge lead in the Atlantic Division shrink to one game. A date with the
slumping Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden helped New York establish
at least some momentum going forward. Carmelo Anthony had 29 points in the
Knicks' 99-93 win over the 76ers. The Knicks built a four- game advantage in
the division earlier this month over the Brooklyn Nets, but New York saw its
gap dissipate to one as it came into Sunday's tilt on a four- game skid. Also
prior to the tilt, the squad fell a game behind the Central Division-leading
Indiana Pacers, who routed New York 125-91 on Wednesday, for the second spot in
the Eastern Conference. Amare Stoudemire added 22 points in the triumph for New
York. Jrue Holiday netted 30 points and Evan Turner finished with 21 points,
eight assists and six rebounds for the Sixers, who have dropped a season-high
five consecutive contests.
Final Score: San Antonio 97, Phoenix 87
Phoenix, AZ
(Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs didn't look past their lowly foe in
the finale of their longest road trip of the season. Kawhi Leonard led a
balanced Spurs attack with 16 points, nine rebounds and three steals in San
Antonio's 97-87 rout of the Phoenix Suns. Six Spurs finished in double figures,
including Patty Mills (16), Tiago Splitter (14), Boris Diaw (12), Manu Ginobili
(11) and Tim Duncan (10). San Antonio went 7-2 on its road stretch. Tony Parker
missed his fourth game this year due to a right triceps contusion. The Spurs
are 3-1 without him. Marcin Gortat had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Suns,
who have dropped seven of their last eight games.
Final Score: Portland 92, Boston 86
Portland, OR
(Sports Network) - Wesley Matthews scored 24 points and led the Portland Trail
Blazers to a 92-86 win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday. Matthews was 8-of-11
from the field, including five 3-pointers. Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge
scored 18 and 16 points, respectively, and J.J. Hickson recorded a
double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who snapped a
seven-game losing streak. Paul Pierce had a team- high 23 points as well as
eight assists and seven rebounds for the Celtics, who came into the game off a
win against Phoenix. Kevin Garnett had 20 points and nine boards, while Brandon
Bass and Jeff Green scored 11 points apiece.
Final Score: Oklahoma City 102, Chicago 72
Oklahoma
City, OK (Sports Network) - The Oklahoma City Thunder finally clamped down
defensively. Russell Westbrook had 23 points in the Thunder's 102-72 win over
the Chicago Bulls. Oklahoma City had allowed at least 109 points in each of its
last four contests when it went 1-3. Kevin Durant registered 19 points, though
on only 6-of-19 shooting, to go with 16 rebounds and six assists for the
Thunder, who held the Bulls to a season-low 29.1 percent (25-of-86) from the
floor. Luol Deng and Nate Robinson both netted 13 points to lead Chicago, which
has dropped six of its last nine tilts.
February
25
Final Score: Washington 90, Toronto 84
Toronto, ON
(Sports Network) - It might already be too late for the suddenly hot Washington
Wizards. Bradley Beal had 20 points and six rebounds in the Wizards' 90-84 win
over the Toronto Raptors. The Wizards, who began the year 0-12, have won seven
of their last nine games and 14-of-23 overall. Washington improved to 18-37 on
the campaign. John Wall added 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the
win. DeMar DeRozan netted 25 points to lead Toronto, which had won six of its
previous seven tilts coming in. Rudy Gay was just 1-of-11 from the floor,
turned the ball over five times and netted seven points in defeat.
Final Score: Atlanta 114, Detroit 103
Auburn
Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Al Horford had 23 points and 22 rebounds to lead
the Atlanta Hawks to a 114-103 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Horford
shot 10-of-13 from the field for the Hawks, who have won three straight games.
Josh Smith also scored 23 points and Jeff Teague recorded a double-double as
well with 20 points and 12 assists. Rodney Stuckey and Jonas Jerebko scored 22
and 21 points, respectively, for the Pistons, who have lost three in a row.
Greg Monroe registered 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Kyle
Singler added 13 points.
Final Score: Denver 119, LA Lakers 108
Denver, CO
(Sports Network) - Ty Lawson had 22 points and eight assists in the Denver
Nuggets' 119-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Wilson Chandler, filling in
for an injured Danilo Gallinari, who is dealing with a thigh bruise, netted 23
points to lead Denver, which has won three of its last four contests. Kobe
Bryant posted 29 points, nine assists and six boards for the Lakers, who had
their three-game winning streak snapped. Dwight Howard tallied 15 points and 14
rebounds, but went just 3-of-14 from the foul line in defeat.
Final Score: Boston 110, Utah 107 (OT)
Salt Lake
City, UT (Sports Network) - Paul Pierce powered Boston with 26 points, eight
assists and seven rebounds, as the Celtics handed the Utah Jazz a rare home
loss with a 110-107 decision in overtime on Monday. Pierce strung together a
trio of scores in the extra session and Courtney Lee, who scored 14, added the
clinching free throws in the waning seconds for Boston, which had lost four of
five away from home coming in. Avery Bradley added 18 points, Kevin Garnett
totaled 13 points with 10 rebounds and Brandon Bass and Jason Terry scored 15 and
14 points, respectively, in the win. Gordon Hayward scored 26 points and Al
Jefferson tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds, but Randy Foye's desperation
triple at the end of OT misfired, sending Utah to just its third loss at home
since the start of 2013. Paul Millsap suffered a sprained ankle, but battled
through to score 16 points in the defeat.
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